"Out in Ruston, this trattoria is a perfect dinner stop after a day spent hanging out in nearby Point Defiance Park. Maculoso’s is an upscale-ish neighborhood Italian joint, with exposed brick and wine racks all over, that’s good for a date, a girl’s night, or a family dinner. Focus on the handmade pastas: It’s hard to pick a favorite, but we always go straight for the pappardelle with a meat sauce that’s loaded with perfectly tender beef, or the alfredo tagliatelle with chicken, sausage, and mushrooms. Seafood starters like vongole saltate and octopus carpaccio are both musts, and the osso buco and cioppino are lovely entrees, too. Just make sure you save enough space for the limoncello mascarpone cake and an espresso at the end." - meg van huygen
